John Edward Lennard-Jones was born in Leigh, Lancashire and educated at Leigh Grammar School where he specialised in classics. In 1912 he entered Manchester University where he changed his subject to mathematics. After First World War service in the Royal Flying Corps he returned to Manchester as Lecturer in Mathematics, 1919-1922. In 1922, on the advice of Sydney Chapman, he applied for and was elected to a Senior 1851 Exhibition which enabled him to work in Cambridge where he became a research student at Trinity College (Ph.D. 1924). He moved to Bristol University as Reader in Mathematical Physics, 1925-1927, and Professor of Theoretical Physics, 1927-1932, returning to Cambridge as Plummer Professor of Theoretical Chemistry, 1932-1953. In this, the first Chair of Theoretical Chemistry to be created in Britain, Lennard-Jones built up a research school applying concepts of quantum mechanics and interatomic forces to phenomena in physics and organic chemistry.... [contined] LJ in 1950. Photography courtesy of © G.G. Hall.

His first graduate student was C.A. Coulson.

In the Second World War Lennard-Jones served as Chief Superintendent of Armament Research, 1942-1945. He remained in government service for a further year as Director of Scientific Research, Ministry of Supply, before returning to Cambridge in 1946.

In 1953 he became Principal of University College of North Staffordshire (later Keele University) but died in 1954 when he had been in the post less than a year.

He was elected FRS in 1933 (Davy Medal 1953) and knighted in 1946.

IDENTITY STATEMENT:
Reference code:
GB 0014 LEJO
Repository:
Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge.
Title:
Papers and correspondence of Sir John Edward Lennard-Jones, 1894-1954.
Dates of creation of material:
Correspondence and papers, 1906-1955.
Level of description:
Fonds
Extent:
4 boxes
CONTEXT
Biographical history:


{here fits in the above text}

Custodial history:
Received in 1973 from Dr John Lennard-Jones, son.
CONTENT HISTORY
Scope and content summary:
The papers include biographical material, scientific and personal correspondence, and lectures and addresses on scientific and religious subjects. There are also 80 personal daily journals (numbered, not in chronological order, by Lennard-Jones) including the period,
1942-1946, when he was Superintendent of Armament Research and Director of Scientific Research,Ministry of Supply.
Arrangement:
By section as follows: Biographical, Scientific and personal correspondence, Persoanl journals, Lectures, sermons and addresses, Private correspondence. Index of correspondents.
CONDITIONS OF ACCESS & USE
Access:
Readers intending to use the Archives Centre must write in advance to the Keeper of the Archives giving details of their research subject and listing the collections they will wish to consult.
New readers should also provide a letter of introduction and some form of identification (such as a passport or driving licence).
Language:
English
Finding aids:
Printed Catalogue of the papers and correspondence of Sir John Edward Lennard-Jones, CSAC catalogue no. 2/73, 7 pp. Copies available from NCUACS, University of Bath
ALLIED MATERIALS
In other repositories:
A collection of lecture notes taken 1928-1932 deposited by Professor C.A. Coulson in Cambridge University Library (shelfmark GB 0012 CUL Add. MS 7807) includes notes of lectures in Cambridge by Lennard Jones. Professor Coulson wrote (14 Novemebr 1973) 'I suspect that these are the first lectures on theoretical chemistry (or perhaps more accurately quantum chemistry) that had been given in Britain'.
A collection of Lennard-Jones's published work is held at Keele University.